Crispy Nilasing na Hipon (Fried Shrimp Marinated in Wine)

Nilasing na hipon or drunken shrimp is a crispy fried shrimp marinated in a cooking wine. It’s a popular pulutan and appetizer in the Philippines. While other shrimp dishes require the seafood to be skinned, this particular recipe doesn’t. Everything is eaten from head to tail including the shell, which just enhances its crispiness.

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Like any other food to be cooked, the shrimps need to be cleaned thoroughly before cooking especially since its shell will be included in the cooking as mentioned above. We recommend cutting (one by one) its rostrum (the shrimp’s beak) including its antenna and the lower half of its claws or legs using a kitchen scissor. Afterward, wash it, then drain the excess water using a colander or a wire mesh.

The next step is the making of the marinade. Once the shrimp is rid of excess fluid, put it in a bowl. Throw in the garlic salt and ground black pepper, then pour the cooking wine. In this particular nilasing na hipon recipe, Shaoxing wine is used, though beer, brandy, or vodka can also be used. Then mix the ingredients using a spoon or just with your hand. This is the process where the shrimps “get drunk.”

The next process is the preparation of the coating to make the shrimp extra crunchy. There are various ways and materials you can use for this method, but in this recipe, flour, cornstarch, and a bit of cayenne pepper are used. Just dredge each shrimp in this flour mixture before frying.

Here’s the full cooking instruction:

How to Prepare and Cook Nilasing na Hipon

Ingredients

½ kilo medium-sized shrimp, with head and shell on

¾ cup all-purpose flour

¼ cup Shaoxing cooking wine, or alternative wine

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

1½ tsp garlic salt

¼ tsp ground cayenne red pepper

3 tbsp cornstarch

1½ cups cooking oil

Instructions

Wash the shrimps with running water. Drain the excess water and transfer the shrimp to a bowl.

Sprinkle the garlic salt and ground black pepper. Mix the ingredients using your hands or a spoon.

Pour the cooking wine. Mix all. make sure that all the ingredients are completely blended. Let it stay for 10 minutes.